PdC looks at overhauling Marquette Road, Villa Louis boat landing, marina
By Rachel Mergen
On Tuesday night, the Prairie du Chien Common Council met to discuss the 2018 Marquette Road Project, North Michigan Street Project, the Villa Louis Boat Landing Project, the marina and salaries and compensations.
A public information meeting for the 2018 Marquette Road Project is scheduled for Feb. 1. It is expected that work will begin in the spring. The council clarified that the frequently used, paved recreational trails within the construction area will remain after construction.
North Michigan Street
The North Michigan Street Project will include work on the entire sewer system. Additionally, driveways and sidewalks will be redone in the process, along with other fixtures. The base bid, which will open in January, is to include North Michigan Street with two alternatives. These alternatives are from the Haydn Street alley to Illinois Street and on Park Street from Michigan Street to Illinois Street.
A construction contract will be awarded in February, and a public information meeting can be expected soon after. Construction looks to begin in June. The late start is due to the spring work on Marquette Road being, according to Vierbicher Associates engineer Matt Muchow, “highly intensive. Starting in June will hopefully offset that.”
A $500,000 Community Development Block Grant was given to the city earlier this year. These funds will be put toward the North Michigan Street Project.
Villa Louis Boat Landing
The Villa Louis Boat Landing project is set to include the addition of one extra boat launch, two launch docks, a storm water pond, a parking lot and a possible fishing pier. The parking lot, which would be asphalt and would cap contaminated soil, is expected to contain 31 stalls for boat trailers and 31 additional stalls for vehicles.
The city is working with the railroad company to make a public railroad crossing near the location. The crossing will be discussed and determined prior to the start of construction.
Bids will be accepted for the project in January and February, while the contract will be awarded in February or March. Construction is expected to begin in June. If bids received are too high, the project may be postponed.
The fishing pier will be an alternative, as it will not bring the city any source of income.
Ultimately, the Villa Louis Boat Landing project is estimated to cost around $460,000. Without the additional pier, $40,000 can be removed from this estimation. The city has already set aside $210,000 for this project and a few smaller ones. With additional boat launch fees that will be collected in upcoming years and grants, the city will be able to pay the expense.
Recently, the city did apply for a stewardship grant, but did not receive the amount. The DNR Boating Grant was also applied for, but due to minimal DNR funding available, such funds are not possible until the summer. Additional grants are possible.
Future marina concepts
After the closure of the Regal Marina, much work has been put into the planning process to decide what happens next. Muchow told the council that plans had to include a balance of both what could be permitted and what the council would like done.
A number of permit issues caused struggles within the balance, including floodway problems, archaeology sites, wetland soil indicators, and contaminated soil north of Washington Street from an old city dump site. The floodway areas do not allow for construction of an office or laundry and do not permit the housing of fuel. Plans had to be readjusted so these items could avoid the floodways. A parking lot, which is in great need, would have to be included to cap the contaminated soil. More information on the regulations of the parking lot will be decided at a later date.
Muchow said two concepts were created that would tackle all of these permit issues. The first option includes placing a marina office along Main Street. The bathroom that is currently located at Main Street and Washington Street would be expanded to include a laundry area, shower and office. This area would be ideal because of the sewer system and land already present. The waste station would have to include a fuel station placed outside of the floodway.
The current kayaking and other recreational sports area improved last year would be untouched and protected. The concept would also include a new boat lift, additional sidewalk, a boat launch and pier, and a beach area next to the current boat landing and shelter. Improvements would be done with the gravel sections, including the present parking lot. No boat repair or off-season storage would be available.
No restaurant would be located at the marina with this concept. This would push guests toward downtown businesses.
Concept two would place the office on a houseboat. The houseboat would only be used for the operation of the marina. The second concept pulls very much from the first otherwise.
“We’re trying to keep Washington Park as much the same as it is now,” Muchow said. He mentioned that at the public works committee meeting, it was decided that concept one was the best option.
The next step in this project is to develop a request for proposal, release it and select an operator. The project may be completed in phases, as it does not have to be done all at once. These concepts may be altered in the future.
Some potential funding and grants are available for this project. The city would be required to apply for the grants, as it will continue as owner of the land, while the operators would own the docks and other materials. The city does not plan to spend a lot of money on these hopes, but instead, the concepts reveal how someone else could come in and complete the plans.
Employee compensation
The salaries and compensations for city officers and employees of the city of Prairie du Chien will stay, for the most part, the same as last year, according to the council. Alderman Ron Leys clarified that members of the city council will not be receiving raises.
